13th May 2019

Selected by Michael McDowell

Michael Keller

2nd - 3rd Prize ex aequo, Schweizerische Schachzeitung, 1977

Mate in 3

Another Grandmasterly three-mover featuring interesting and original
play, as ever from Michael Keller.

1.Re8 ambushes behind the bishop and threatens 2.Qh8+ Bf6 3.Q×f6.
In the two main variations the opening of a guard on e4 is followed by a careful choice of Nowotny
interference on b3, separated by the need to avoid closing the line just opened (the Mari theme).
1...Bf6 2.Scb3+ R×b3 3.Rd5; 2...B×b3 3.Sf3 (not 2.Sdb3+? Rxb3! 3.Se6??);
1...Rh2 2.Sdb3+ Rxb3 3.Se6; 2...Bxb3 or Ke5 3.Bc3 (not 2.Scb3+? Bxb3! 3.Sf3??).
There is one by-play variation 1...R×f2 2.B×f2+ Ke5 3.Qh8; 2...Re3 3.Sf3.